After a backlash against so-called identity politics in the workplace, employers are ditching diverse recruitment policies (The Telegraph).
According to a survey by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), a majority of businesses now no longer state an interest in hiring diverse candidates in their job adverts. The figure, which currently stands at 55.2%, has risen from 49.2% in 2023 and 47.9% in 2022.
Additionally, the use of “inclusive” language in job advertising has fallen from around 72% to roughly 55%.
The chief executive of the REC, Neil Carberry, said the shift was driven by “the unhelpful political framing of work on diverse and inclusive hiring as somehow ‘woke’.”
The findings come amid concerns from politicians and activists that workplaces have become overly focused on diversity, jeopardising their business performance.
This year, Kemi Badenoch, a former business secretary and current Tory leadership hopeful, said that she believed Britain’s diversity drive was “counterproductive”. Ms Badenoch argued that it had done little to reduce prejudice yet had cost millions of pounds.
Public institutions, such as local councils and the civil service, have been criticised for hiring highly-paid staff to oversee diversity programmes.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that, despite a black hole in its finances of hundreds of millions of pounds, Birmingham City Council would spend £400,000 on diversity staff.
US activists have also waged campaigns against major companies including Ford, Harley-Davidson, Starbucks and Jack Daniel’s, arguing that diversity-focused approaches were harming business performance. Several targeted companies have since softened or abandoned their diversity policies.
The REC also found that fewer UK employers were using diverse interview panels and “name blind” recruiting policies.
The group argued that abandoning diversity and inclusion policies would hinder employers’ efforts to tackle Britain’s productivity crisis and fill roles, adding that ethnic minority employees may be put off from applying.
Mr Carberry said: “This survey suggests that many employers still think of inclusive hiring as something to do in the better times – rather than a fundamental to being able to hire well in the mid-2020s.
“Despite the unhelpful political framing of work on diverse and inclusive hiring as somehow ‘woke’, getting this right is both a commercial and a fairness issue.
“Business leaders need to understand that, even in a cooling market, the world has changed and engaging with a wide pool of potential employees requires a new approach.”
Although some businesses have moved away from diversity-focused recruitment, other employers remain committed to it. Despite a wider cost-cutting drive that involves slashing 500 roles by March 2026, the BBC recently confirmed plans to spend £80m on diversity programmes.
A BBC spokesman said the diversity spending was taken from existing commissioning budgets, rather than being a dedicated new fund. As such, it was separate from spending decisions elsewhere at the broadcaster.
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